LAS VEGAS — Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder had shown a ton of disdain toward one another leading into Saturday's trilogy fight.
It all translated to one of the greatest heavyweight title fights in the last 25 years as Fury and Wilder combined for five knockdowns. But it was the Brit who landed his third and final knockdown of the fight with a left hook followed by a right hand to send Wilder face-first to the canvas. That was enough for Russell Mora to stop the fight at the 1:10 mark of the 11th round to have Fury retain his WBC and lineal heavyweight titles. DAZN News had the fight scored 95-91 for Fury at the time of the stoppage.
“I’m made of pig iron and steel, baby,” Fury said in his post-fight interview.
Wilder came out boxing in the opening round as he was working the jab to the body and had by far his best overall round up to that point in the 21 rounds they had been inside the ring.
From the third round on, we saw a back and forth slugfest, unlike anything we had seen in quite some time. With about a minute remaining in the round, Wilder landed a right that sent Fury back to the ropes. It appeared Wilder was moments away from putting Fury away. But Fury landed a right and followed with a short uppercut for the first knockdown of the fight. Wilder got up and shook his head like it didn't affect him. Fury came back with a right, and Wilder survived the round.
The way the third went, it looked like Fury would put Wilder away and make it a short night. Instead, Wilder showed why he's never out of a fight as he connected on a right and instantly landed another to send Fury down for the first time. Fury made to his feet but Wilder sensed he could put him away and regain his belt. He saw an opening and dropped Fury again with another vicious right. Somehow, Fury made it to his feet, but it appeared to be a matter of time before Wilder would become a two-time heavyweight champion.
Fury regained the momentum in the sixth. He started finding a home for the straight right hand, pounding the body, and leaning all his 277 pounds onto Wilder to try and wear him down. The strategy worked as Wilder's shots were missing and he was laboring by the end of the seventh round. He was near the brink of exhaustion walking back to his corner.
In the eighth and ninth rounds, Fury was hitting Wilder with everything, including the kitchen sink but Wilder showed how much of a warrior he is by absorbing the punishment and trying to find a way to get back into the fight. During the tenth round, Fury looked to have finally put Wilder away as they got out of the clinch, and Fury connected on a crisp right hook to send Wilder to the mat for the second time. Wilder showed how badly he wanted to get back on the heavyweight mountain and pulled himself off the deck. With blood on his face, Wilder gallantly told Mora, 'Let's go'.
And go the "Bronze Bomber" went as he showed the heart of a champion as he landed a flush uppercut. Fury fired right back with an uppercut of his own to snap Wilder's head back. Undeterred, Wilder stunned Fury with a right hand. The round ended, and the crowd was on their feet, roaring in adulation for both fighters. That would be the last shot Wilder had in his barrel.
Fury began the 11th, blasting Wilder with another right hand. Somehow, some way, Wilder was still standing there looking to win. Another right snapped Wilder's head back and to the ropes. Sensing he could finally put Wilder out of his misery, Fury connected on a left hook and a right hand to send Wilder face-first to the canvas. Mora jumped right in over Wilder and waved it off.
Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) tried to congratulate Wilder on the epic fight, but the native of Alabama didn't oblige.
“I’m a sportsman," Fury said. "I went over to (Deontay Wilder to) show some love and respect, and he didn’t want to show it back. So I pray for him."
Here is what happened at Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder 3.